Lisburn claim third win on the bounce with victory over Derriaghy

David Holmes

Derriaghy had their chances but didn’t take them as Lisburn ran out the winners by 29 runs.

With a local derby there was a lot at stake and for some perhaps the nerves took over.

Craig Lewis gave Derriaghy the perfect start, finding the edge of Robert Rankin’s bat and Adam Jamison taking the catch behind. This brought Lisburn skipper Adam Berry to the middle and he played the innings of the day.

Ricky Simpson and Berry began picking off ones and twos, with Berry punishing the bad ball. When Derriaghy worked out the secret was to take pace off the ball, they were right in the contest.

One thing they don’t lack is variety and it was the quartet of slow bowlers all of whom impressed, most notably Wayne Hughes. Hughes made the breakthrough, Matthew Jennings taking the catch to get rid of Simpson.

Professional Cody Chetty replaced him in the middle but Berry continued to play the dominant role.

One thing missing from the Berry CV this season is the big innings and he looked set until immediately after hitting Robert Cumins for four he danced down the wicket and was comfortably stumped for 67.

In the entirety of the Lisburn innings there were 11 boundaries, Berry contributed 7 5x4’s and 2x6’s.

The problem now was Lisburn seemed determined to bat themselves out of the game. Caution appeared to be the watchword and Derriaghy were allowed to dictate the pace.

If Derriaghy had held any of the at least six chances offered it may well have been a different story, but Chetty went on to make 75, only one four but three sixes, none of the remaining batsmen got out of single figures.

The last over bowled by Curtis Moorhead summed it up, a team hat-trick two caught and a run out, but was 185 enough?

David Simpson’s opening spell set the tone, removing both openers with only 18 on the board.

Kaushik Aphale and Andrew Kenny though looked comfortable working it around, 60-2 off 20, until the former was caught behind off Steve Lazars, the latter becoming a rare wicket for skipper Berry’s off-spin.

Lewis made his intentions very clear, off the mark with a six and then a follow up four off Lazars.

Two more huge hits followed, then he tried to hit McConkey straight and James Magowan didn’t have to move a muscle to hold on.

Next ball Moorhead shouldered arms and was clean bowled, then when Cumins was given lbw the contest was effectively over. For Lisburn it was the seamers who impressed Simpson taking 3-23 and Rick McConkey 3-27.

A third win on the spin for Lisburn, eases the pressure on them but Derriaghy showed enough to suggest that all may not be lost yet.